Automatic device for pleating drapes



Sept. 30, 1958 L. c. RAMM 2,854,073

AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR PLEATING DRAPES Filed Oct. 25. 1957 United States Patent AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR PLEATING DRAPES Leonard C. Ramm, Mount Clemens, Mich. I

Application October 25, 1957, Serial No. 692,296

3 Claims. (Cl. 160--348) This invention relates to draperies and has particular reference to means for automatically pleating draperies.

An object of this invention is to provide means, whereby a housewife, or anyone, without the skill of an interior decorator, may automatically pleat and hang a set of draperies, without the necessity of sewing or stitching the pleats.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for pleating and hanging window drapes, which are simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and efficient 1n use.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, reference being made from time to time to the accompanying drawing, forming part of the within disclosure in which drawing:

Fig. l is a fragmentary front perspective view of a window drape pleated and hung according to the teachings of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an expanded view of the elements used in pleating the drape.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of a portion of a drape, with the pins attached and illustrating the manner of spacing the pins, preliminary to forming the pleats.

Fig. 4 is a view, similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating the manner in which the pins have been brought together to form the pleats.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but illustrating the pins in close relation, and manner of inserting the anchor tongue, between the backs of the pins and the fabric of the drape.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view, illustrating the manner in which the pins and anchor tongue are in serted in the slots formed in the forming bar.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary rear elevational view, illustrating the manner in which the forming bar, pins, anchor tongue, and pleat assembly, are secured to the drapery rod.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will be understood that in the embodiment herein disclosed, the reference character 11, indicates a conventional drapery rod, on which is mounted a drapery 12, formed with pleats 13 according to the teaching of the invention.

In Fig. 2, I illustrate the elements employed in the pleating operation, which elements, consist of a specially formed safety pin 14, anchor tongue 15, and forming bar 16. In forming the pleat, I employ four pins for' each three pleats, as shown in Fig. l, which pins are preferably spaced approximately two inches apart at the outset, as shown in Fig. 3, and then brought together as shown in Fig. 4.

Each pin 14 has a pair of parallel elements 14A and 14B, the former being the pin proper and the latter being the back of the pin. The anchor tongue 15 is preferably made of plastic and is in the form of a rectangle of such thickness which will enable it to be inserted between the pin sections 14A and 14B after the pins are inserted in the fabric of the drapes as shown in Fig. 3.

Fatented Sept. 30, 1958 The forming bar 16 is preferably made of a suitable plastic material and is provided with a longitudinal slot 17 which is arranged to receive the anchor tongue 15 and a second longitudinal slot 18 which is adapted to receive the backs 14B of the pins 14. The forming bar 16 is also provided with a hook 19 which engages the rod 11 to support the assembly as shown in Fig. 7.

In operation the device functions as follows: the pins 14 are first inserted in the drape 12 along the upper edge at spaced intervals of approximately two inches, four pins being used to form three pleats as shown in Figs. 3 and 1. The portion 14A of the pin is extended through the drape 12 as shown in Fig. 3, and the back portion 14B is then snapped over the pin portion 14B and the pins are ready for the next operation which is illustrated in Fig. 4 wherein it is shown how the pins are brought together so that the surplus material between the pins form the pleats 13 when the pins are held in close relation as shown in Fig. 5.

The anchor tongue 15 is then inserted between the back portions 14B of the pins and the fabric which is engaged by the pin portions 14A. The pins 14 and the anchor tongue 15 are then inserted in the longitudinal slots 17 and 18 provided in the forming bar 16 as shown in Fig. 6. The tongue 15 may be retained in slot 17 by any conven tional means. The operation is repeated until the drape 12 is provided with a multiplicity of pleats as shown in Fig. 1. The hooks 19 on the forming bar 16 are then secured over the drapery rod 11, and the operation is complete.

Having described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A device for pleatinga drape comprising in combination, a plurality of safety pins, vertically inserted in said drape having in spaced relation, a pair of parallel legs, an anchor tongue received between the legs of said pins ice ' and a forming bar comprising a length of rigid material having a slot formed in one longitudinal wall and having received therein one leg of each of said pins, a second slot in saidbar transversely communicating with said first slot, said last named slot having received therein said anchor tongue, and means on said bar for securing the same to a drapery rod.

2. In combination a drape, a rod for supporting said drape, a plurality of safety pins inserted vertically in spaced relation along the upper edge of said drape, each pin having a pair of parallel legs, an anchor tongue between the legs of said pins, and a forming bar comprising a length of rigid material having a slot formed in one longitudinal wall and having received therein one leg of each of said pins, a second slot in said bar transversely communicating with said first slot, said last named slot having received therein said anchor tongue and means on said bar for securing the same to a drapery rod.

3. In combination, a drape, a rod for supporting said drape, a plurality of safety pins inserted vertically in parallel relation, along the upper edge of said drape, pleats in said drape each pleat being defined by two of said pins, each pin having parallel legs, an anchor tongue received between the legs of two or more of said pins and a forming bar having at least one longitudinal slot therein for receiving said anchor tongue and the pins associated therewith, said forming bar having means thereon for being received on said rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,863,638 Richter June 21, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 29,387 Great Britain Dec. 20, 1913 

